Japan: A magnitude-5.1 earthquake occurs in Chiba Prefecture at around 01:49 March 2

A magnitude-5.1 earthquake occurred in Chiba Prefecture at around 01:49 March 2. The epicenter was approximately 2 km (1 mile) north-northwest of Ohara. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 2 km (1 miles), and weak-to-light shaking was probably felt in parts of central Japan. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake; significant damage is unlikely. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Aftershocks are likely over the coming days.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found. Utility outages are possible, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.